Comparing Colonization: How did the Colonization of Australia and North America Differ?
Following the Age of Discovery in the 15th century, the race for colonization was one fought on a global scale. Many nations sought to expand into a maritime empire, one that covered all corners of the world and placed them on the top charts of global domination and power. The British were no exception to this; in fact, they were one of the leaders in colonization for many centuries, their exploits reaching from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean. Australia and North America were two of the targets of the British’s empire expansion; however, the reason, method, and impact of each differed from each other greatly.
Though both Australia and the Americas were
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colonized by the British, the reason for doing so was very different in nature. The colonization of the Americas was seen “as a way to solve the problems of the growing numbers of displaced and poor people” (History is Fun, “Life at Jamestown”), as well as a way to “[fulfill the British] desire to sell more goods and resources to other countries than it bought” (History is Fun, “Life at Jamestown”). This would then increase the wealth of the British and keep it on the rise as an emerging economic and trade powerhouse and help it win in the war of global domination against other European powers (such as Spain or France). The colonization of Australia, however, was not meant to make money or increase the rank of the British. Instead, it was to act as a place to put the nation’s “most troublesome commodity...its criminals and undesirables” (Owlcation, “Why Great Britain Colonized Australia”) — a penal colony. Australia, seemingly unclaimed and up for grabs when it came to the battle for colonization, became the ideal location for doing so, and thus became placed upon the British’s itinerary of colonization. Just as the reason for colonization was different when it came to Australia and North America, the method of doing so also differed. In the case of North America, those who settled the new founded colonies included both “Puritans driven out of England...who were oppressed by the state church and government” and “private entrepreneurs” (Berndl, 341) fueled by the prospects of making money in the Americas. These settlers, in order to meet the expectation of forming an autonomous community, set up on lands that the government had assigned to various individuals and corporations for development in order to ensure success (Berndl, 341). Australia, instead of being settled by religious refugees or budding businessmen, however, was settled by prisoners and their guards as a “unique penal experiment” (Keneally, 4). These prisoners, as part of their sentence and the British’s selling of their labor, were forced to establish the colony through manual work (Keneally, 6). This helped the settlements in Australia to grow into viable communities and become more than their originally intended purpose. Lastly, one area where the colonies of Australia and North America differed was in their effect on native populations.
The effect of British colonization on Native American populations was immense and destructive. Through the introduction of new diseases by the Europeans, “epidemics claimed the lives of 75 percent of the native people” between 1616 and 1618 along the New England coast (Lumen Learning, “The Impact of Colonization”) and caused “the loss of knowledge and tradition...and devastating implications for future generations” of Natives (Lumen Learning, “The Impact of Colonization”). Some less fatal effects included the somewhat forced conversion of natives to Christianity and the adoption of some European technologies, such as textiles instead of animal fur, by the Natives, which once again resulted in a loss of tradition and culture (Lumen Learning, “The Impact of Colonization”). In Australia, on the other hand, some effects on Natives were similar to those seen in North America. Thousands of natives were also killed by newly introduced diseases; however, the treatment of the native populations by the Europeans was somewhat arguably better in the beginning of colonization than it was in the Americas. A number of settlers attempted to acclimate native children to European culture by sending them to school, though many ended up returning to their tribes. Governors also initially encouraged polite and fair interactions with the natives (Skwirk, “Consequences of British colonisation for Aboriginal People”); however, feelings soon turned sour as both sides realized their interests were in conflict. Because of superior European weaponry and military tactics, the result was extreme land loss for the Natives and violent killings in reaction to resistance, leaving the indigenous populations of Australia to be almost completely wiped out (Skwirk, “Consequences of British colonisation for Aboriginal
People”). All in all, despite some similarities between the two regarding the treatment of natives, the colonization of both North America and Australia differed from each other quite a bit in terms of reason for doing so, process of doing so, and impact on indigenous populations, despite both being colonized by the British during the race for empire expansion.
The introduction nearly killed the entire population. Diseases like the smallpox, measles, chickenpox, influenza, and many others have helped to the extinction of almost half of the languages known today. When Europeans settled in the Native American land, the quickly tried to acculturate them by taking their land, fighting them for land, and later using reservations to almost incarcerate them for the outside world because they did not want to live like the white man. Native Americans did not like the way they were treated. Every generation that passes, there will be fewer and fewer Native Americans around the Americas.
Some consequences of the exchange are the spread of disease to the Native people and settlers, the destruction of the Native population, and the disappearance of the Natives custom’s, beliefs, and way of life. Columbus’s arrival to the Americas, land that had already been established by the Natives, resulted in a spread of fatal diseases. Disagreement between the Europeans and the Natives and the enslavement of Native people helped to wipe out the population. Document 5 illustrates the fighting that occurred between the Natives and Europeans.
After the First Fleet arrived on the continent in 1788, the British tried to set up a relationship with the Aborigines that was benevolent and peaceful, as Governor Philip instructed; however their actions did not reflect this same idea. Their interactions commonly ended with violence, and occasionally death, particularly in the Myall Creek Massacre. On June 10, 1838 there were twelve British men came into contact with thirty of the Aboriginals, or people of Wirrayaraay, at Myall Creek. Up until this time, the British people who settled in the area became increasingly skeptical of the native Australians, and this nervousness led to a series of conflicts with these native people; these conflicts ended with the death of the thirty aboriginals at Myall Creek. This massacre is a prime example of how the natives were impacted by the British settlers, because it was one of the most tragic of the frontier conflicts between the peoples. Not only were these natives killed on June 10th, these Wirrayaraay people were first rounded up, and then tied together before being killed by the British settlers soon after. The British settlers who tied up and murdered these natives were British convicts who were freed, and allowed to pursue the native tribes. This massacre exhibits the impacts of the British settlers on the Australian natives, because it shows how they were affected by the brutal treatment by the British convicts, who made up a majority of the British
Dating back to the first occurrence of European colonization in the New World, Europeans have advanced their agenda of territorial expansion through the conquering of indigenous peoples. Clashes of culture brought forth a series of conflicts between Native Americans and European settlers that centered around differing religious beliefs and land ideologies. A tidal wave of new diseases also severely weakened the Native American population across the continent, leaving them vulnerable to the increased influx of European settlements. Over the span of 500 years, European impact would eradicate an estimated 60 million Native Americans ("Native North Americans”).
The year 1942 marked a division in the contemporary world history. There were a number of developments that would bring enormous effects for the Old and the New World Wars. The discovery of these developments changed the diets of both the western and eastern regions, assisted in initiating the Atlantic slave trade, and spread illnesses that had a destructive effect on populations in India, and resulted in the creation of European colonies across the Western region (Cohen and Rosenzwei 124). This paper is focused on establishing the main events that made England to gain control over the Atlantic and establishing settlements in North America. The paper also explores the major events that led to the demise of Spanish power in the Atlantic. This will be done through looking at a number of factors including commerce, the rise of competing nations that presented an encouragement for the exploration and colonization of the new lands by the Europeans, rapid population growth, and new learning. In addition, it explores and explains reasons as to why Spain and Portugal were the first to be engaged in the exploration of the overseas, as well as, why France and England were slow in challenging the supremacy of Spain in the Americas. The primary sources to be used include Jamestown: 1607, The First Months, Jamestown: 1609-10, Starving Time by, George Percy, Cotton Mather’s The Ecclesiastical History of New-England, and Journey to Pennsylvania in the year 1750 by Gottlieb Mittelberger.
The outbreak of diseases ravages the Native population. Due to geographic regions and limitations, the Natives never suffered from such strong illnesses as smallpox, measles and the black plague. Some of the European colonies gave the Natives diseased infested animals and clothing. The English and the Natives did cooperate with each other due to it being in the best of their interests. Their mutual trust would later erode due to the English going back to their old habits and started to steal from the Natives.
The Treaty of London (1604) ended the war between England and Spain and secured Spain’s position as a leading power in the world. Although the war was over, there were still plenty of tensions between the two countries. There is no hiding the fact, that the rivalry between England and Spain in the 1500s and 1600s assisted in spurring the colonization of the New World in completion of new land, wealth and power. Military bases for warring against Spain could also be created in the New World and encouraged England’s colonization as well. Without doubt, the war with Spain and the rivalry created afterwards, was a major stimulation in building new colonies in
The European influences to the Native Americans were Europeans carried the new diseases to the Indians. “Europeans were used to these diseases, but Indian people had no resistance to them. Sometimes the illnesses spread through direct contact with colonists. Other times, they were transmitted as Indians traded with one another. The result of this contact with European germs was horrible. Sometimes whole villages perished in a short time” (Kincheloe). Slave trade was another influence to American Indians. Europeans soon realized that they could provide commercial goods such as tools and weapons to some American Indian tribes that would bring them other Indians captured in tribal wars, and these captured Indians were bought and sold as slaves. Therefore, “slavery led to warfare among tribes and too much hardship. Many tribes had to move to escape the slave trade, which destroyed some tribes completely. In time, the practice of enslaving Native peoples ended. However, it had greatly affected American Indians of the South and the Southwest” (Kinchloe). Lastly, Europeans change Native America and African’ roots. Native Americans
Economic concerns of the British caused the colonization of British North America. Such economic concerns included the opportunity to acquire gold, silver, a North American waterway that would lead directly to China and the Indies, and the prospect of countering Spain's dominance in North America (Boorstin et al. 34). In addition to these economic reasons for colonization, the English were also seeking to obtain the essential "raw materials" in America that they had been previously buying from other European countries for exorbitant amounts of money and gold (Boorstin et al. 34). Great Britain also sought to solve other economic problems through American colonization. For example, England needed to replenish some of its diminishing materials and assets, generate another "market" to export its cargo and merchandise, maintain its powerful navy and "merchant marine" through business with new American colonies, and to provide a new place for the unemployed to settle rather than escalating populace/crime and the economic burden in its own cities (Boorstin et al. 34).
In the 17th century, America as we know it today was colonized by the English. The colonies in the North came during what was known as "The Great Migration," (from 1620-1640) which brought over Puritans to colonize New England. In 1607, King James chartered a ship to America in order to colonize the South, (Virginia). In this essay I 'm going to compare and contrast the colonial settlements in the North and South. The North and South are similar in their way of treating Native Americans and the way they used the land for natural resources. The differences being religion, system of land, economy, and slavery. Although both colonial settlers in the North and South immigrated to the New World in search of a new start, both settlements ended up
Britain was endowed with geographic and political advantages that allowed the country to become the first to unwittingly stumble onto industrialization. Britain was an island, therefore had developed a unique naval strength which subsequently gave Britain leverage when globalization blossomed from expanding maritime trade. Meanwhile, the rest of Europe, including Belgium, trailed behind. Presently, colonized regions still bear the traits and scars from the subjugators of their past. Intensity of Rule: [comparing conquerors].
In this case, diseases were unknowingly exchanged with commodities causing harm to both parties. An epidemic of syphilis swept across Europe, while smallpox and measles wiped out masses of Native Americans. Disease was the leading cause in Native American deaths during the European colonization, killing off around 90% of the population. It was far deadlier than any musket or cannon. With most of the indigenous population crippled by disease, Europeans were able to easily conquer them and acquire new territories to expand westward. The second largest factor contributing to the conquest of the west was the difference between a musket and an arrow. The biggest difference between them was that an untrained gunman would be far more effective than an untrained bowman. Muskets could be mass produced and put into the hands of anyone and they could wield it with general ease. Within a century of Columbus 's arrival, Native Americans had almost gone
The Effects of Colonization on the Native Americans Native Americans had inherited the land now called America and eventually their lives were destroyed due to European colonization. When the Europeans arrived and settled, they changed the Native American way of life for the worse. These changes were caused by a number of factors including disease, loss of land, attempts to export religion, and laws, which violated Native American culture. Native Americans never came in contact with diseases that developed in the Old World because they were separated from Asia, Africa, and Europe when ocean levels rose following the end of the last Ice Age. Diseases like smallpox, measles, pneumonia, influenza, and malaria were unknown to the Native Americans until the Europeans brought these diseases over time to them.
The foundation for new imperialism rested on the ideas and products of the enlightenment. Advancements in technology, medicine and cartography led to the success of new imperialism (Genova, 2/15). For example, European voyages would have been for naught, if it were not for the enlightenment discover...
As Europeans colonized newly discovered parts of the world,—operations, which originated in 1492 C.E.— they quickly placed the natives into a slavelike system where they were forced to mine and work for the benefit of the colonists and their nations (Kagan, Ozment, and Turner 343-345). It has been since then that their lands have been invaded and claimed by the foreign inhabitants; hence, their economic situations in modern day are dramatically severe, due to a serious decline in a source for economic prosperity. Additionally, tourism, immigration, industrial development, and many other factors contribute to the disadvantages Aborigines face in their lives. As a result, indigenous peoples are often involved in criminal acts to accommodate for their low-wage payments, which barely suffice. Diseases thrive among the indigenous populations around the world as illnesses such as diabetes, tuberculosis, and maternal and infant mortality affect the majority of the communities, especially the women and children (“UN Report”). These situations have devastated many of the various indigenous cultures; consequently, numerous cultures and traditional practices cease to exist as a result of the unfortunate